Braves Batter Billingsley in MLB Return, Blank Phils 9-0

Chad Billingsley made an underwhelming debut with the Philadelphia Phillies Tuesday night, surrendering six runs (five earned) on eight hits and a walk over five innings during a 9-0 Phillies loss in Atlanta. Pitching in his first official Major League game since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2013, Billingsley was able to retire Nick Markakis to open the Braves’ half of the first, but then promptly allowed a single and then a two-run home run to Freddie Freeman. He then got through the second and third unscathed but a four-run fourth capped by a three-run homer served up to Kelly Johnson drove up a suspected pitch count, forcing the nine-year veteran out after 77 pitches in the fifth. The Phillies offense once again did little to help the cause in collecting just three hits on the evening. For more on this game, click here.